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The Three Sisters [DVD]

Laurence Olivier (Actor), Alan Bates (Actor), Laurence Olivier (Director), John Sichel (Director) | Rated: Universal, suitable for all | Format: DVD
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Actors: Laurence Olivier, Alan Bates, Joan Plowright, Derek Jacobi, Jeanne Watts
  • Directors: Laurence Olivier, John Sichel
  • Producers: John Goldstone
  • Format: PAL
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: U
  • Studio: Warner Home Video
  • DVD Release Date: 28 Jun 2004
  • Run Time: 155 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00022EFDY
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 100,562 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

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Reviews

Product Description

A direct filming of Laurence Olivier's stage version of Chekhov's play about compromise, dissatisfaction and broken dreams. Olga (Jeanne Watts), Irina (Louise Purnell) and Masha (Joan Plowright) are the three daughters of a deceased Russian General, who, along with their brother Andrei (Derek Jacobi), dream constantly of their former life in Moscow. Now living in a small town, they find life hopelessly provincial and meaningless, and despair of ever finding meaning or romance in their dull lives. Despite Andrei's marriage to a local girl and Masha's affair with a soldier, their hopes of a more glamorous and exciting life begin to fade, until tragedy eventually befalls the ill-fated family.

Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
5 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars One of the Finest Stage Adaptations in Film History 19 Sep 2000
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
This is a beautiful, glorious filming of Chekhov's brilliant play. Unfortunately, because it cannot be found on video here in America, I had to catch it late-night on TV in order to see it. You Brits are lucky.

The acting is superb, especially by Joan Plowright, Jeanne Watts, and Louise Purnell, who flesh out the conflicting characteristics perfectly. Olivier himself puts in a fine performance as the alcoholic officer, and two of Britan's finest actors, Alan Bates and Derek Jacobi, offer wonderful support. The photography by Geoffrey Unsworth is magnificent, and the simplistic production design makes you feel like you're actually in a theater watching a production. As always, Olivier does more with the theater than any other director could.

"Three Sisters" is not as involving as Olivier's first two Shakespeare films, "Henry V" and "Hamlet," but it shows that Sir Laurence has just as much understanding of Chekhov, and deserves to go on the same shelf.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars CHEKHOV'S THREE SISTERS DVD. 22 Nov 2012
By geoffrey27
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
THREE SISTERS is a great play, which is still fresh more than 110 years after its first performance. Laurence Olivier's 1970 film is based on his acclaimed National Theatre production, with the original cast reinforced by Alan Bates as Vershinin and himself as Chetbyutkin. It provides a complete text and captures the ambience and atmosphere of bourgeois society in the final years of Imperial Russia. The acting is close to faultless and, while only minimal attempts are made to open it up beyond the confines of the stage set, the close ups register the subtle shifts in emotion which seldom come across so clearly in the theatre. Out of the many fine performances, I would single out Joan Plowright as Masha, who was truly heartbreaking at the end; but there was a wonderful rapport among the entire cast, and especially the sisters themselves. I shall certainly want to see it again, and can only add that, at this price, it is an unmissable bargain.
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6 of 12 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars A little overrated 29 Mar 2010
By Mr. R. C. Maytum
Format:DVD
I may be missing the point, but this looks nothing more than a stage production captured on film. I wonder why actors want to be in films they direct? There are times when shots go on and on, some could be much shorter and punchier while others cry out for a different viewpoint. Alan Bates enters grinning like a Cheshire cat yet at home he has a wife who is driving him to distraction! Louise Purnell doesn't get a credit on the DVD and yet is brilliant throughout. Jeanne Watts voice is the clearest on the screen - wonderful. Of course the film is worth seeing again and again, but it's no classic. I would like to see one of our contemporary directors making this wonderful play into a film. But please, a film should be a film!
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